MANILA – Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana has urged the public to give the newly-signed anti-terror law or Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 a chance amid supposed misinformation and disinformation.
Lorenzana said in a statement on Sunday it will be better for the public to read the law as it will be strictly implemented according to its purpose and will not be abused.
“We appeal to the public to give this law a chance and not to be swayed by misinformation and disinformation,” Lorenzana said. “We urge everyone to read and understand the law.”
Militant and human rights groups, among others, fear that the law will be abused and used to go after critics of the government, while Commission on Human Rights called on the measure’s vague definition of terrorism.
“It is a much-needed measure to clothe law enforcement agencies with the necessary power to contain and eradicate terrorists who don’t play by any rules and who hide behind our laws to pursue their evil deeds,” Lorenzana added.
Under the law, persons who shall threaten to commit terrorism, and those who will propose any terroristic acts or incite others to commit terrorism shall suffer imprisonment of 12 years.
Suspected persons can be detained for 14 days without a warrant of arrest with an allowable 10-day extension. A 60-day surveillance on suspected terrorists can also be conducted by the police or the military, with an allowable 30-day extension.
On Friday, it was announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the anti-terror bill into law. It will take effect on July 19, or 15 days since its publication on Official Gazette./PN
